Chapter Thirty Eight

Barely a moment after Bimala's flight, an officer came hurriedly into Jagatsingh's place of confinement and said, "Your Highness! The hour of the Nawab Sahib's death is at hand; he hath called for thee."

The Prince said in astonishment, "How can this be?"

The officer said, "An enemy hath entered the inner apartments and wounded the Nawab Sahib and escaped. He hath not yet breathed his last, but there is no time to lose; come at once, Your Highness, or you will not see him in time."

The Prince said, "Hath he need to see me at such an hour?"

The messenger said, "I know not; I am but a bearer of tidings."

The Prince went with the messenger into the inner apartments. He found there that the lamp of Katlu Khan's life was indeed burning very low — the darkness would not long be delayed. All about him were gathered Osman, Ayesha, the Nawab's young sons who were not yet of age, his wives, his concubines, his handmaids, his ministers, and others. A clamour of weeping had arisen; almost all were crying aloud; the children wept without understanding why; Ayesha did not cry out. Ayesha's face was flooded with the streams of silent tears; in silence she held her father's head in her lap. Jagatsingh saw that her figure was motionless, grave, and still.

No sooner had the Prince entered than a minister named Khwaja Isa took him by the hand and led him to Katlu Khan's side; and in the manner in which one must address the deaf, speaking loudly, he said, "Prince Jagatsingh is come."

Katlu Khan said in a feeble voice, "I was thine enemy; I am dying — let hatred and enmity be put away."

Jagatsingh, understanding, said, "At this hour I put them all away."

Katlu Khan again spoke in the same tone: "A petition — wilt thou grant it?"

Jagatsingh asked, "What am I to grant?"

Katlu Khan began again: "My sons — all children — war — great thirst."

Ayesha moistened his lips with a little sherbet.

"War — no need — peace ___"

Katlu Khan fell silent. Jagatsingh made no reply. Katlu Khan lay gazing at his face, waiting for an answer. Receiving none, he said with difficulty, "Thou refusest?"

The Prince said, "If the Pathans will acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord of Delhi, I undertake to intercede for a peace."

Katlu Khan, breathing still more faintly, said again, "Orissa?"

The Prince understood, and said, "If I am able to accomplish the thing, thy sons shall not be dispossessed of Orissa."

The face of the dying Katlu Khan, worn with the anguish of death, became illumined.

The dying man said, "Thou art — free — may the Lord of the Universe — grant thee welfare ___" Jagatsingh turned to go; Ayesha bent her face low and whispered something in her father's ear. Katlu Khan looked toward Khwaja Isa, and then again toward the departing Prince. Khwaja Isa said to the Prince, "I believe he hath something further to say to thee."

The Prince turned back. Katlu Khan said, "Thine ear."

The Prince understood. He stood nearer to the dying man and bent his ear close to that face. Katlu Khan, in a yet more indistinct voice than before, said, "A brave man ___"

He was silent for a moment, then continued: "Birendrasingh — thirst."

Ayesha again moistened his lips.

"Birendrasingh's daughter."

It was as though a scorpion had stung the Prince; he drew back sharply and stood a little way off. Katlu Khan continued: "Fatherless — I a sinner — ah, thirst."

Ayesha moistened his lips again and again. But now it became all but impossible to form words. Breathing in slow gasps, he continued: "Bitter pain — she is virtuous — thou must see ___"

The Prince said, "What?" The question fell on Katlu Khan's ear like a roll of thunder. Katlu Khan struggled on: "This — da — daughter's — like her — pure. — Thou! — Ah! — Great thirst — I go, I go — Ayesha."

No further words came. The effort had been beyond his strength; the exhausted head rolled and fell upon the ground. With his daughter's name yet upon his lips, the Nawab Katlu Khan departed this life.